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Updated: Dec 23, 2025

Facial Transplants in Xenopus laevis Embryos

Facial Transplants in Xenopus laevis Embryos

Published on: March 26, 2014

Evolutionary integration of the frog cranium.

Carla Bardua^1,2, Anne-Claire Fabre², Margot Bon²

¹Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution

|April 30, 2020

Summary

Evolutionary changes in frog skulls are highly modular, particularly in the feeding apparatus. This pattern of cranial integration is similar across amphibian groups, despite varied life histories.

Keywords:

Frogs cranial morphology development disparity integration morphometrics

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Comparative Morphology
Amphibian Phylogenetics

Background:

Evolutionary integration (covariation) of traits is crucial for understanding morphological evolution.
Previous studies on tetrapod crania revealed integration patterns linked to function and development.
Anura (frogs) present a diverse range of cranial morphologies and life histories, yet lack comprehensive integration studies.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify evolutionary modularity in the anuran cranium across all extant families.
To compare cranial integration patterns in anurans with different life history modes.
To investigate the influence of larval feeding stages and ossification timing on cranial integration.

Main Methods:

High-density morphometrics were used to capture cranial morphology.
172 anuran species were sampled, representing all extant families.
Patterns of evolutionary integration and modularity were quantified and compared.

Main Results:

Anuran cranial evolution is highly modular, with a well-integrated suspensorium related to feeding.
This integration pattern mirrors findings in caecilians and salamanders, suggesting conserved modularity across Lissamphibia.
Larval feeding stage did not influence cranial integration, but late-ossifying bones showed higher integration than early-ossifying ones.

Conclusions:

Anuran cranial modules exhibit diverse morphological disparities, supporting mosaic evolution.
The study reveals conserved patterns of evolutionary integration across amphibian orders.
No consistent relationship was found between within-module integration and morphological disparity.